British Columbia

Canada’s lush, mountainous Pacific Coast

Simply known as BC, British Columbia contains some of the most varied and spectacular scenery in the world. To the east are the Rocky Mountains, to the north are many lakes, forests, there is a small desert in the south and the west of the province lies along the Pacific Ocean coast. Heavily influenced from California, which is easier to access than the rest of Canada, British Columbians live a different lifestyle to the rest of Canada.

Victoria is located on Vancouver Island, closer to Washington State, USA, than mainland BC. With the mildest climate in Canada, the capital of British Columbia is home to 300,000 residents and is growing fast. The tourist trade is a major factor, just like Vancouver, but the line between what is laid on for the tourists and what is truly authentic is a bit blurred.

One of the most spectacularly scenic cities in Canada, Vancouver is nestled between the sea and the mountains in the very south west of the province. As one of the most cosmopolitan cities in North America, Vancouver is home to many new immigrants is easily the third largest city in Canada (behind Toronto and Montreal).

Featured Journeys

Drive the Pacific Rim Highway from Port Alberni on Vancouver Island through the national park reseve's rainforest, past windswept beaches and discover the abundance of wildlife on the land and the ocean in this memorable roadtrip.

Drive British Columbia's most scenic highway, the Sea to Sky. The road starts oceanside, at sea level, then winds its way up, through the mountains offering a wide variety of scenery and activities along the way.